Two arrested at big marijuana grow in south Paradise

PARADISE — Two Mexican nationals were arrested Tuesday at a home in a residential neighborhood in south Paradise on charges they ran a large illegal marijuana garden.

According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, its Special Enforcement Unit found 710 marijuana plants at the home and they arrested Demetrio Marcial-Matias, 49, and Francisco Santiago-Pedro, 34, both from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Bail is set for both arrested parties at $100,000 and Immigration holds are in place.

The illegal grow in the 1400 block of Dottie Lane, between Sawmill and South Libby Roads, was spotted from the air in early May, deputies said.

When deputies arrived to serve the warrants both Marcial-Matias and Santiago-Pedro were leaving out the back door but were taken into custody without incident.

Deputies allege the home and outside areas of the property showed a "scene very similar of those located in illegal cartel style marijuana grows in our mountains."

Detectives say the grow was hidden behind a wooden fence and a secondary fence made of landscape fabric. The marijuana was planted between rows of corn.

The two also allegedly clear cut large healthy oak trees, some of which had been banded in an effort to kill the tree.

Deputies say several feet of branches and tree trunks had been piled outside the perimeter of the fence to prevent access to the garden, which created a severe fire hazard to nearby residences.